Hosting Thanksgiving dinner is stressful in and of itself. Add a few children into the mix, especially when they are not your own, and the scene can be downright overwhelming.

As you plan and prepare for your Thanksgiving festivities, keep these kid friendly tips in mind.

1. Serve Kid Friendly Foods

With the excitement and energy in the room, chances are, the children aren’t going to have much of an appetite, especially for relatively unfamiliar foods. Consider providing kid friendly, Thanksgiving-themed food options like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on whole wheat bread, made into turkeys. Cut a piece of the sandwich out into the shape of a diamond. Cut a small circle out of the leftover sandwich and place it on top for the turkey’s face. Slice various colors of peppers to make the turkey’s plume and cut out eyes, a nose and a waddle to add to the turkey’s face.

2. Set the scene for success

Kid proofing your home will go far in creating a kid friendly environment and in alleviating stress from you and your adults guests. Remove breakables and knickknacks well before your guests arrive. Close doors and gate off areas that are off limits. You’ll also want to make sure any medications or other hazards are stored away out of reach and out of sight. Make the area you’ll be in welcoming to children by providing age-appropriate appetizers (yes like Goldfish!), games, movies, toys or art supplies for your younger guests to enjoy.

3. Have a kids table

Consider providing a separate table for younger children. Have Thanksgiving-themed placements or printouts and crayons for coloring; provide materials for the children to create a simple centerpiece (small pumpkins and stickers or paint), and have the children set their own table.

4. Get the kids involved

Children who feel like they have an important role to play feel special, appreciated and wanted. When they are involved and are receiving positive attention, they are less likely to act out. Consider asking the children to share what they are grateful for, to help with clean up and to sing a song or to put on a short play (remember those days?).

5. Provide a family-friendly Thanksgiving-themed activity

If you’re looking for a simple kid friendly activity that most any age will enjoy, bake up some sugar cookies, cut them out using Thanksgiving-themed cookie cutters and have your guests decorate them. The great thing about this activity is you can bake and freeze the cookies well in advance and the finished products double as favors. On the day of your festivities, fill small paper cups with various colors of frosting, sprinkles and other small candies. Put out a bunch of plastic spoons (for younger children) and knives and let the decorating begin! Have small plastic bags handy for guests to package up their creations.

Are you having a houseful of younger guests at your Thanksgiving table? How will you include them in your festivities? Share your ideas below.

With her background as an International Nanny Association Credentialed Nanny specializing in caring for multiples, Michelle has been partnering with parents in raising their children since 1994.

With her extensive experience in newborn, infant and child care, and with her passion for setting herself apart from her peers by providing top-notch service, Michelle is regularly called on by the most popular parenting magazines and websites to share her knowledge and expertise. She has been featured on Parents.com, Parenting.com, and BabyTalk.com and regularly contributes to ModernMom.com, Momtastic.com, and other popular parenting websites.

Michelle has contributed to TWINS Magazine and wrote a chapter for the best-selling Experts' Guide to the Baby Years. Michelle has also authored four books of her own entitled, Nanny to the Rescue!, Nanny to the Rescue Again!, Working Mom's 411 and A Mom's Ultimate Book of Lists. She also co-authored Beyond Parenting Basics: The International Nanny Association’s Official Guide to In-Home Child Care.

Michelle is an active member of the nanny and baby planner communities. In 2004, Michelle was honored as the International Nanny Association Nanny of the Year> and received accolades from President George Bush for her dedication to improving quality in-home child care. Michelle serves on the advisory board of the International Academy of Baby Planner Professionals and has served on the board of directors and as vice president of the International Nanny Association. She has also served as the executive director of the International Nanny Association and as a trainer for The Academy of Coaching Parents International.

Michelle currently serves as the editor in chief of Longhorn Leads, managing the content across their portfolio of care related sites including www.eNannySource.com, www.GoNannies.com, www.NannyPro.com, and www.4Nannies.com, in addition to serving as the executive director of Morningside Nannies, the company’s award-winning placement agency.

Michelle is a national speaker, bringing a message of hope and empowerment to moms groups across the nation. She and her husband Jeff, reside on Cape Cod with their daughter, Abigail, and their son, Luke.